Under Michigan's Workers' Disability Compensation Act, injured workers are entitled to 80 percent of their normal after-tax earnings for a specified period -- unless the employee cannot work because of imprisonment or commission of a crime.

Tlaib wants to amend the act to specify that "commission of a crime" does not include "an alien's working without employment authorization or an alien's use of false documents."

She's not alone.

WILX reports Tlaib and a group of like-minded residents -- some illegal immigrants -- rallied for workers' compensation rights at the State Capitol in Lansing on Thursday.

March 11, WILX.com: "We're only one of two states in the nation that does not allow workers that are undocumented to compensate when they are injured on the job," said state Rep. Rashida Tlaib from Detroit.

..."Allowing workers' compensation for all injured workers is a better system than allowing people to be part of a black market of undocumented workers," Tlaib said at the rally.

Some of her fellow lawmakers, though, say her bill doesn't stand a chance.

"The only thing we should be giving illegal immigrants is a bus ride home," said state Rep. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, after hearing about the bill.

The Federation for American Immigration Reform estimates Michigan had an illegal alien population of 125,000 as of 2008. Many undocumented workers pay social security and real-estate taxes, but Tlaib said they're not afforded the right to compensation if they're injured on the job.

Nationally, the Center of Immigration Studies estimates that more than 50 percent of illegal immigrants who work are "on the books," providing employers with social security cards that often are fraudulent.

What's your take: Regardless of how they found employment, should illegal immigrants be afforded workers' compensation protections?

Update: There's been some discussion in the comments whether state government covers workers' compensation costs. That's not the case. As slacker1989 points out, the law requires employers to assure they can pay benefits to injured workers. Most do this by purchasing insurance. Some financially secure -- and often large -- companies can obtain permission to "self-insure." Check out this overview if you're interested in learning more.